E-Mail to AT&T CEO Provokes Cease-and-Desist Letter

For a man who runs one of the largest tech companies in the world, Apple's Steve Jobs can be surprisingly responsive when it comes to returning e-mail. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, on the other hand, is apparently not quite so eager

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For a man who runs one of the largest tech companies in the world, Steve Jobs can be surprisingly responsive when it comes to returning e-mails, making folks like me feel all the worse when it comes to our general neglect in that area. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, on the other hand, is apparently not quite so eager to field questions from you, the customer.

Engadget reader Giorgio Galante reportedly received a warning after e-mailing the CEO twice in two weeks. AT&T's Executive Response Team apparently sent Galante a warning, adding that they would send out a cease-and-desist letter upon receiving further e-mails.

Galante's first e-mail was a request to have his iPhone eligibility date changed. The second was a question about tethering. He then received a call from an AT&T rep named Brent, who mentioned the possibility of legal action.

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"We are apologizing to our customer," AT&T said in a statement. "We're working with him today to address his questions and concerns. This is not the way we want to treat customers. From Facebook to significant customer service channels, AT&T strives to provide our customers with easy ways to have their questions addressed."

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 430pm Eastern time with comment from AT&T.

Brian Heater came to PCMag in 2006, after working at Laptop Magazine as a staff writer. His writing has appeared in Spin, The Onion, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, The Oklahoma Gazette, The Metro Santa Cruz, Heeb, and a lot of music magazines you’ve probably never heard of. He also runs the comics site The Daily Cross Hatch, which he strongly recommends you check out. One time Brian met the president. He had green hair back then. Long story.
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